During this lock out here on the corner there's been plenty of mention about the player's greed but holy shit, its seems to me that the players are pikers by comparison to the owners. those guys are the real pros...

Of course the Oilers likely won't actually move to Seattle just like the Patriots wouldn't have actually moved to Hartford. However, the public positioning that Robert Kraft and the Patriots did in Connecticut led directly to the new facility being built in Foxboro, Mass. Katz is simply using the tried and true method of scaring the crap out of lawmakers in an area that depends on the team. Heck Kraft actually signed a MOU with the state of Connecticut where the state would build a $350 mill facility and put in another $1 billion in development around the area. The flipside of this is that Connecticut HATES the Pats now.

I'd also point out that the Oilers payroll is going to increase this year and next. With the revenues they had last year they would see the profit they had shrivel up. They do need a new facility and if another city/state/province wants to build him one he'd be silly not to investigate that. Especially because it puts pressure on those he's negotiating with.

Meds wrote:This is a combination of a lack of arena and the owners/management finally recognizing that it's time to move somewhere that star players are going to want to come to.

I'm not sure if I believe Katz or the city on the subject of Katz's group suddenly wanting more concessions from taxpayers. Katz says it was always part of the deal, the city says it's new. Likely the city is lying because they don't want to pony up the dough but don't want to feel the wrath of Edmontonians when the team moves and their beloved Oilers are gone.

What will they put on the sign then? Welcome to Edmonton The City of Departed Champions?

Another Canadian City of Victimized Fans?

Do you think the taxpayers of Edmonton will be happy with the city if it actually hands that fucker a stadium and the contract to run it with public money? I kinda thought that it was well known that people are generally against that sort of thing. you know what with the shortage of classrooms and hospital beds?

Yeah. Well kinda what I was getting at.....the city knows about the places where funds are better served. The people know it too. So by spinning it like Katz is adding to the deal then the city is more likely to blame Katz and be pissed at him for trying to screw over the tax payer.

I think the whole deal is BS. No way should tax payers have to shell out for something that ends up putting more money in the pockets of a pro sports franchise. If the arena isn't going to put money back in the coffers of the city then the city should look to break even and just do it for the perks and extra business that an NHL franchise brings in.....but a definite no to the deal that Katz Group has offerred.

Meds wrote:I think the whole deal is BS. No way should tax payers have to shell out for something that ends up putting more money in the pockets of a pro sports franchise. If the arena isn't going to put money back in the coffers of the city then the city should look to break even and just do it for the perks and extra business that an NHL franchise brings in.....but a definite no to the deal that Katz Group has offerred.

Meds wrote:I think the whole deal is BS. No way should tax payers have to shell out for something that ends up putting more money in the pockets of a pro sports franchise. If the arena isn't going to put money back in the coffers of the city then the city should look to break even and just do it for the perks and extra business that an NHL franchise brings in.....but a definite no to the deal that Katz Group has offerred.

BC Place ?

When it comes to Meds World and how he sees it, there are exceptions to the rule, in that his strong political views when it comes to tax payers expenditures on sporting facilities those rules simply do not apply to BC Place. The new stadium, is the greatest thing EVER! GO BC LIONS GO! The CFL rocks! Money well spent! But A DEFINITE NO TO A NEW STADIUM IN LANDS OUTSIDE OF THE PROVINCE OF B.C.!

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate

Meds wrote:I think the whole deal is BS. No way should tax payers have to shell out for something that ends up putting more money in the pockets of a pro sports franchise. If the arena isn't going to put money back in the coffers of the city then the city should look to break even and just do it for the perks and extra business that an NHL franchise brings in.....but a definite no to the deal that Katz Group has offerred.

BC Place ?

I didn't realize that it was purely tax dollars for the sole benefit of the BC Lions. I also was unaware that BC Place was built solely for the Lions. I'm fairly certain it was built for Expo 86. Last time I was in BC Place was for U2's No Line on the Horizon tour. Did the profits from that go to the Lions? Because according to the deal in place with the Oil, The Katz Group was going to get those revenues in all but one month of the year. What I read on TSN regarding the arrangement was unbelievable lopsided and nearly all the revenues went back to the Katz Group. The primary reason for building a new arena in Edmonton is for the Oilers to play hockey. Granted, Rexall is showing its age, but when the majority of proceeds from all events go to the guy who is apparently paying for just under half of the construction.....something doesn't add up.

I realize that the Katz Group would then be responsible for the operating costs of the building, but even if the concessions they are asking from tax payers were up front and not a new proposal on their part, it is still a poor investment of tax dollars. I see it as no different than when Quebec City thought that the Federal Gov should pay for a new arena so an NHL franchise could come back to QC.

Meds wrote:I think the whole deal is BS. No way should tax payers have to shell out for something that ends up putting more money in the pockets of a pro sports franchise. If the arena isn't going to put money back in the coffers of the city then the city should look to break even and just do it for the perks and extra business that an NHL franchise brings in.....but a definite no to the deal that Katz Group has offerred.

BC Place ?

I didn't realize that it was purely tax dollars for the sole benefit of the BC Lions. I also was unaware that BC Place was built solely for the Lions. I'm fairly certain it was built for Expo 86. Last time I was in BC Place was for U2's No Line on the Horizon tour. Did the profits from that go to the Lions? Because according to the deal in place with the Oil, The Katz Group was going to get those revenues in all but one month of the year. What I read on TSN regarding the arrangement was unbelievable lopsided and nearly all the revenues went back to the Katz Group. The primary reason for building a new arena in Edmonton is for the Oilers to play hockey. Granted, Rexall is showing its age, but when the majority of proceeds from all events go to the guy who is apparently paying for just under half of the construction.....something doesn't add up.

I realize that the Katz Group would then be responsible for the operating costs of the building, but even if the concessions they are asking from tax payers were up front and not a new proposal on their part, it is still a poor investment of tax dollars. I see it as no different than when Quebec City thought that the Federal Gov should pay for a new arena so an NHL franchise could come back to QC.

As much as I loved the winter olys and seeing canada take home the gold left right and centre...it perhaps falls into the bad investment for taxpayers...same with the london summer Olys...all that coin... somebody made out like bandits... just not sure who

The socialist government in Brazil (Democratic Labour Party ) sure seem to be looking foward to the next Olympics in Rio and God knows they have a lot of opportunity to work miracles for the residents of the favelas

BC Place built in 1983 I believe for 126 million bones. The renovation for the new roof cost $563 million. The renovation budget was set for $365 million by the BC government. End result, $200 million over budget for a building to house the BC Lions. Greg Kerfoot owner of the Whitecaps wants to build his own soccer only stadium, trust me, he still does. What is so funny about Kerfoots situation is that he was literally on his hands and knees begging to build one on the waterfront with ALL HIS PRIVATE MONEY AND NO HELP FROM THE TAXPAYERS, but unfortunately some Federal Government funded Railroad company won't make a land swap deal with him, or should I say, sell the space above the tracks to add to the land that he owns on the waterfront, and so because of that he is TEMPORARILY playing his soccer team at BC Place. Kerfoot was even willing to build that waterfront stadium (keep in mind, WITH HIS OWN MONEY) to house both the Caps and the Lions at one point. This AMAZING new convention centre built on the waterfront, funded by taxpayers, is supposed to handle all the new big conventions, so it couldn't be the conventions that justified the $200 million over budget reno that cost $563 million to build is it???? So at the end of the day, this fucking $563 million renovation for a new roof to BC Place, is really for the BC Lions only, what 8 home games a year, and maybe a couple conventions??? Wow, money well spent. But hey, Meds is cool with that, Just not what is going on with the Oilers, damn the Katz group to hell if they want help from taxpayers to build a new stadium.

"I just want to say one word to you. Just one word. Are you listening? - Plastics." - The Graduate

RoyalDude wrote:BC Place built in 1983 I believe for 126 million bones. The renovation for the new roof cost $563 million. The renovation budget was set for $365 million by the BC government. End result, $200 million over budget for a building to house the BC Lions. Greg Kerfoot owner of the Whitecaps wants to build his own soccer only stadium, trust me, he still does. What is so funny about Kerfoots situation is that he was literally on his hands and knees begging to build one on the waterfront with ALL HIS PRIVATE MONEY AND NO HELP FROM THE TAXPAYERS, but unfortunately some Federal Government funded Railroad company won't make a land swap deal with him, or should I say, sell the space above the tracks to add to the land that he owns on the waterfront, and so because of that he is TEMPORARILY playing his soccer team at BC Place. Kerfoot was even willing to build that waterfront stadium (keep in mind, WITH HIS OWN MONEY) to house both the Caps and the Lions at one point. This AMAZING new convention centre built on the waterfront, funded by taxpayers, is supposed to handle all the new big conventions, so it couldn't be the conventions that justified the $200 million over budget reno that cost $563 million to build is it???? So at the end of the day, this fucking $563 million renovation for a new roof to BC Place, is really for the BC Lions only, what 8 home games a year, and maybe a couple conventions??? Wow, money well spent. But hey, Meds is cool with that, Just not what is going on with the Oilers, damn the Katz group to hell if they want help from taxpayers to build a new stadium.

I'm thinking that one could write a book about all of the problems, issues, and concerns with the water front stadium that never got built V rebuilding/ refurbishing BC place, and probably will get written one day

but....1. Mess with Federal railway infrastructure and right of way? The lifeblood of Vancouver and the Nation? no thanky, no touchy, no way.2. DERA and the social problems that would be acerbated by having the middle class rub noses with the poor and down trodden? where will they go if they are forced out of the east side? They wont be welcome out in the burbs 3. BC Place exists and will deteriorate with like empire did when obsolete leaving a gaping hole that more leaky condos is not going to fill. 4. The result is a world class capital asset that still belongs to the city, produce revenue from concerts and tractor pulls etc, houses the two sports franchises and gives them the ability to compete and continue into the foreseeable future all while providing jobs and income over time that will eventually pay for itsself (theoretically at least) without handing anything to private interests for free...

As for the Katz deal Meds is right, its a bad deal for Edmonton that would be ripping off the taxpayer. The City foots half the building costs, covers the development costs including road way approaches and the like, and pays Katz for the upkeep and maintenance that Katxz will make profit from, and he gets all of the revenue from the other uses of the building for most of the year?

If Edmonton gives him that they are fools. Give him the same breaks that Griffiths got here and thats it...If he aint got the money he's a piker anyway...